In this issue..

Sugar beet weeds
Chris Rutterford says that although the active
substances are much the same as 30 years ago,
formulation has changed dramatically.
safety profile that supports a flexible
approach. I’m confident that with some
favourable conditions we should achieve
our goals,” says Mr Styles.
For Christopher Rutterford of Little
Thornes Farm, Swaffham, sugar beet
represents the most profitable break crop
option available.
“We’re aiming for upwards of 80t/ha, but
even at 75t/ha it competes strongly with
cereals. The interest in the crop from
new growers isn’t surprising,” he says.
He believes that sugar beet growers
have benefitted considerably from other
people’s efforts.
“Breeders have made great strides
in variety potential, while machinery
manufacturers have done much to
address concerns over compaction. This
has done much to support the crop on
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heavy land sites, while fungicides have
enabled us to maintain canopy health
through the autumn.”
So, what would be the best advise he’d
share with any new or returning grower?
“Establishment is the basis of reliable
performance. I often say that with sugar
beet you’re not a grower, you’re a driller
because if you get that wrong you’re
finished. The weather has an influence of
course, but if you start well you’re well
placed to take on Mother Nature.”
Herbicide selection is still a consideration,
but not to the extent it once was, he reckons.
Formulation change
“Chemicals have improved markedly in
the past decade. The active substances
are much the same as 30 years ago, but
formulation has changed dramatically with
the development of oil dispersion (OD)
mixes. They’re now far safer and more
effective.”
Sugar beet agronomist Dr Pat Turnbull
adds to the advice to new growers.
“Controlling weeds early in sugar beet is
vital if growers are to achieve a low unit
cost of production and it’s the key to
achieving higher yields.
“Getting control strategies right is
important, or you’ll always be playing
catch up and in the long run this will be
more expensive. Hit broadleaf weeds hard
and early, using a mix of contact and
residual-acting herbicides,” she advises.
“Compromising weed control can soon
tip the balance to a position that you can’t
come back from and it’s the taller weeds
that are the real problem. An infestation of
just one tall weed species/m 2 , such as fat
hen or redshank, in a crop can potentially
Pat Turnbull advises sprays are based on the
crop’s growth stage, because as the size of the
beet seedlings increases they can cope with
stronger herbicide mixes.
reduce yields by 10%. Bad weed control
can knock yields by 30%.”
Pat Turnbull says that weed control in
sugar beet has always been about finding
the right strategy. The move towards having
a single, high-tech sprayer on the farm
covering a large number of hectares and
a wide range of crops, has meant that
the multi-pass herbicide, low dose,
post-emergence strategies, applied at close
intervals have become more of a challenge.
“Growers simply don’t have the time to
get so many applications on the crop at
such a busy time of year, so adopting a
two-spray programmme known as
‘Broadacre’ that uses robust multi-active
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60 crop production magazine arable extra march 2017